by Mike Curry

Hostess closed gamely when roused in early stretch and outfinished multiple graded stakes winner Mauralakana (Fr) to win the $150,000 Orchid Handicap (G3) by 1 1/4 lengths on Sunday at Gulfstream Park and earn her first career stakes victory.

Trained by James Bond for owner William L. Clifton Jr., Hostess entered off a disappointing seventh-place finish on March 8 at Gulfstream in The Very One Handicap (G3), won by Mauralakana. Hostess turned the tables on that foe with a determined rally from the inside as she drew alongside Mauralakana near the eighth pole and edged clear in the final strides to prevail in 2:25.83 for 1 1/2 miles on firm turf.

A five-year-old Chester House mare, Hostess finished third last year in the New York Stakes (G2), Sheepshead Bay Handicap (G2), and Sands Point Stakes (G3). She also was the runner-up in the Destiny Dance Stakes last year at Belmont Park. 

“She really deserves this win,” Bond said. “We’ll get her back to New York before we see what’s next, maybe the Sheepshead Bay again [at Belmont on May 24].”

Sent off as the 5.40-to-1 third choice in the eight-horse field, Hostess was reserved early by jockey John Velazquez and dropped back to last as pacesetter Eclisse (Fr) maintained a clear advantage through one mile in 1:39.23.

Mauralakana, who stalked the pace under jockey Rene Douglas, surged into contention leaving the final turn and seized command in early stretch. Hostess rallied from along the rail and to challenge the familiar foe and the two spurted clear of the rest of the field.

Hostess put away 1.90-to-1 favorite Mauaralakana inside the final sixteenth to halt a seven-race winless stretch.

“I rode her today like I did last year,” Velazquez said. “She was really close today and sustained her run. I let her go at the quarter pole and she finished really strong.”

Herboriste (GB) edged Leap in the Sun by a head to finish third.

Hostess improved to three wins in 17 starts and boosted her earnings to $273,708. Bred in Kentucky by Peter Van Andel, Hostess is out of the Vice Regent mare Charge d’Affaires.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Mike Curry is Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor